As a second wave of mailed flyers blasts Tunney and ties him to Joe Berrios, new details emerge about who runs the “neighborhood group” behind the big-bucks assault.

Greg Hinz On Politics

Ald. Tom Tunney, left, has clashed with the Cubs over the expansion and use of Wrigley Field.

As a second wave of mailed flyers blasts Tunney and ties him to Joe Berrios, new details emerge about who runs the “neighborhood group” behind the big-bucks assault.

A Lakeview community group that is funded by and has close ties to the Ricketts family has widened its assault on Ald. Tom Tunney, 44th, who repeatedly has clashed with the family-owned Chicago Cubs over the expansion and use of Wrigley Field and nearby property.

In a mailing that landed over the weekend (below), Neighbors for a Better Lakeview, which on its website describes itself as “a grassroots organization” that is based on “neighbor to neighbor interaction,” asks Tunney for “an explanation” as to why local property taxes are rising.

On the flip side, the flyer links Tunney to one of the most unpopular figures in local government, outgoing Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios. Pasting a picture of Tunney standing over Berrios’ shoulder, the flyer says, “We need Ald. Tunney and Assessor Joe Berrios to meet with residents to explain why our property taxes are skyrocketing.”

Berrios was defeated by challenger Fritz Kaegi in the March Democratic primary. As I reported at the time, Tunney did not endorse Kaegi like some other committeemen—Tunney also is the 44th Ward Democratic committeeman—but did not endorse Berrios either, staying neutral.

Tunney has supported a series of property tax increases pushed through by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, mostly to move cash-short city pension funds toward an actuarial funding level. That is likely to be an issue in the upcoming city elections, though the flyer does not specifically mention that.

Nor does the flyer say anything about who is behind the group, other than concerned neighbors.The group’s spokeswoman has failed to return numerous calls. Instead, most of the comments on the matter have been handled by Dennis Culloton, the spokesman for managing Cubs owner Tom Ricketts and other members of the Ricketts family.

On Friday, I reported that Culloton had confirmed that Neighbors for a Better Lakeview, which is registered as a 501(c)(4) issues organization that is not required to disclose its donors, was in fact funded by members of the Ricketts family. Culloton said only that the amount is consistent with what the family has donated to other neighborhood groups but, in the case of local schools, that’s $50,000 or more.

Since then I’ve learned that the board of Neighbors for a Better Lakeview includes two individuals with ties to the Ricketts family—in one case, a very close personal tie.

One board member is Daryl Thomann, the COO of Make-a-Wish Illinois, which has received charitable contributions from Cubs’ Charities. Culloton said those contributions are several years in the past, and that Thomann was upset at how Tunney handled the opening of a marijuana dispensary near where her child attends school.

Another member is Jeremy Gottschalk, who Culloton said is “a very close friend with Laura (Ricketts) and the family.” Gottschalk reportedly is the father by artificial insemination of Laura Ricketts’ child.

Beyond that, the organization appears to have paid staff, mostly young college graduates who are going door to door on its behalf. One of them, Alexander Vasconcelles, lists himself on his LinkedIn page as “community organizer at Neighbors for a Better Lakeview.”

The clash between Tunney and the Ricketts certainly has been brewing for a while—so much so that you have to ask why team owners didn’t just go public with their opposition rather than running funds through a dark-money group.

“At this point, it’s sort of ‘screw it.’ We’ve had enough,” says one insider who regularly works with both sides but asked not to be named. Given Tunney’s long alliance with rooftop owners near Wrigley, and disputes over whether to close Addison and Clark Streets on game days, add more concerts on non-game days, and open an outside drinking area to the public, “They felt Tunney was really going for the jugular.”

Tunney at this point does not have a major re-election foe, but the ad campaign may be an effort to soften him up and lure someone into the race, political insiders are telling me. It also could put Emanuel in a tight spot, choosing between the team and supporting a close City Council ally.

Culloton said he does not believe family members saw the latest flyer before it hit the mail, but confirmed that owners believe they have been mistreated by Tunney. Others surely will argue that Tunney just is doing his job and that the ward needs an alderman not controlled by big financial interests.

In a phone interview, Tunney said he has worked hard to get his constituents all of the tax exemptions they’re entitled to, and has set up local workshops with Berrios staff and others to explain the tax hikes. “My job is to work with everyone.”